High temperatures recorded in Singapore expected to ease gradually

PHOTO: The Straits Times

If you felt that the weather was a little too hot to handle in the last couple of days, you were not overthinking it.

As forecast in Meteorological Service Singapore's (MSS) fortnightly weather outlook issued last Friday (Apr 15), the country has been experiencing significantly warmer temperatures over various parts of the island over the last few days.

The highest daily maximum temperature recorded was 36°C on Tuesday (Apr 19) and as of 3pm today, it was 35.1°C. Both temperatures were recorded at Choa Chu Kang, announced the National Environment Agency in a joint statement with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social and Family Development and Ministry of Manpower.

For two days, Apr 17 and 18, the daily maximum temperatures recorded at weather stations islandwide ranged between 31.4°C and 36.4°C and between 31.3°C and 35.8°C respectively.

Also on the aforementioned days, the daily mean temperatures recorded were very high at 30.3°C and 30.9°C respectively. Both temperatures were recorded at Tai Seng.

But the highest daily mean temperature recorded so far this year was 31.3°C at Pasir Panjang on Tuesday. Over at the Changi climate station that same day, the daily mean temperature recorded was 30.6°C. This surpasses the highest ever recorded daily mean temperature of 30.2°C back on June 22 last year.

The long-term mean monthly temperature for April is 28.0°C.

According to the government agencies, warm temperatures are common during the inter-monsoon months of April and May when there is strong solar heating and the winds are generally light.

Climatologically, April is the warmest month of the year.

However, unlike how it has been in Malaysia, the temperature in Singapore is not likely to reach 40°C due to the moderating effect of surrounding seas.

MSS forecasts that high temperatures can still be expected for the rest of the week, although a gradual easing is likely.

On that note, more showers may be expected closer to the weekend.

Members of the public are advised to take precautionary measures to minimise the risk of heat-induced illnesses during warm weather.